As Easy as Stone Soup: Developing a Statewide Hearing Aid Loaner Program Kirsten Coverstone, M.A., FAAA National EHDI Conference Salt Lake City, Utah March 27, 2007 Minnesota Hearing Aid Loaner Program

General State Information Voluntary State for UNHS 108 birthing hospitals with ~ 70,000 births Should identify about 200 babies each year

Why a Hearing Aid Loaner Program? Immediate access to amplification Amplification trial before Cochlear Implant Delays with authorization for third party payment Short term needs while awaiting medical intervention Responding to stakeholders needs

Agreement form Request form Inventory form Low Tech High Tech

Manufacture Consignment Manufacture Grant for Product Families Inventory

Financial Grants Service Organizations State Programs Foundations

Minnesota Lions Fostering a good relationship General proposal Community support

Lions Loaner Bank Inventory 2 FM Systems 2 Bone Conduction Aids 135 BTE Hearing Aids (Batteries & Care Kits)

Program Information Newly identified infants & young children Loaned through Audiologists only Approximately 6 months Free to families

Lions Loaner Hearing Instrument Program Loaned to over 200 Families Average length of loan ~ 7.2 months 53 Audiologists using loaner program

How does the program measure up?

Parent Survey Feedback from families on their experience with the loaner program Survey –Letter to family after instruments are returned –Postage paid postcard included in letter

Name: _______________________________ (Optional) Thank you for your participation! Lions Infant Hearing Program 420 Delaware Street SE MMC#283 Minneapolis, MN

In order to evaluate the Hearing Aid Loaner Program we need your feedback. Please take a moment to complete and drop in the mail. 1. Date your child was fit with this Loaner Hearing Aid: ____________________ 2. Receiving a loaner hearing aid (s) was helpful. (Please circle a number) 5 = Strongly Agree 4 = Agree 3 = Neither Agree or Disagree 2=Disagree 1= Strongly Disagree Why: _________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. How will your childs permanent hearing aid (s) be funded? (Please check all that apply) ___ Private health insurance ___ Public health insurance (e.g., MNCare) ___ Minnesota Children with Special Health Needs (MCSHN) ___ Service Groups ( e.g., Lions, Sertoma, Church…) ___ Self ___ Other: __________________________________ 4. Comments: __________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ THANK YOU!

Parent Survey Results 1.Helpful Average Score – Funding Source of Permanent Amplification (single source or combination) –52%, private insurance –12%, public health insurance – 2%, MN Children with Special Healthcare Needs – 9%, Service Groups –36%, Self –16%, Other (cochlear implant, not sure yet, friends, Starkey Fund, HIKE fund, surgery corrected)

Comments from Families… Time! It gave us time to adjust, time to save for purchase, time for more testing to determine cause & level of hearing loss. Thank you SO VERY much to the people who make this program possible. At a time when we were feeling paralyzed with grief over our infant son's deafness, it was extremely helpful to be handed the loaner aids so early & without a long process. THANK YOU! The program allowed me time to sign up for a health care spending account - since my insurance will not cover.

Audiology Survey The Loaner Program has technology adequate to meet your needs. __ yes __ no What of the following would you like to see added to the loaner bank? __ FM systems __ Accessories – audio shoes / boots, care kits, batteries __ Hearing aids __ Other _______________________________________

On a continuum please indicate the following: Strongly agreeAgreeNeutralDisagree Strongly disagree The loaner program responds to my requests in timely manner. SAANDSD The loaner program offers a variety of hearing aids which meet the needs of my patients. SAANDSD The loaner program allows children to keep the aids for an adequate amount of time. SAANDSD My patients are able to access funding for their personal hearing aids. SAANDSD Minnesota familes know whom to contact to receive state supported assistance. SAANDSD The loaner program is an assest to my practice and the families for whom it serves. SAANDSD I would support legislation which helps to fund the statewide loaner program. SAANDSD Audiology Survey

If there is greater than one month between audiological confirmation of hearing loss and fitting of amplification, identify the issues that contribute to the amount of time that elapses. __ funding for amplification __ issues with parent follow-up __delayed physician referral __incomplete diagnostic information __inconclusive diagnostic information __ complicating health issues __ other, please describe_________________________

Survey Benefits Provides information to gain support Provides an opportunity for education Validates program Supports Legislation

Legislation 2007

Continued Growth Develop website and online documentation Change Parent Survey Identify Service Gaps

With a little love and imagination you can turn nothing into something everyone can be proud of… Start with what is currently available and add as you go along. Let people, programs and communities add what they have available. Once all together you will have a program that will benefit families. Minnesota Hearing Aid Loaner Program

THANK YOU Any questions please feel free to contact me…